Great news: new comedy James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man is the funniest local show in ages
TVNZ’s new dating show is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Plus, the new historical epic everyone loves, and the best season of Married at First Sight…ever?
Love is in the air in this week’s Rec Room, after I had a sneak peak at New Zealand comedian James Mustapic’s new show James Must-a-pic His Mum A His Man. I’m delighted to say it will truly set your hearts racing when it drops on TVNZ+ next week, and if you’re already a fan of Mustapic’s sharp wit from shows like Abandonment Issues and Celebrity Treasure Island, then you’re in for a treat. If you don’t fancy watching a 27-year-old’s intrepid search for a father figure, then Alex Casey heartily recommends saying “I do” to the latest dramatic season of Married at First Sight. Enjoy! / Tara Ward
TVNZ’s new comedy series is bursting with heart, humour and a certain Bachelor in a bathtub
James Mustapic is sitting on a couch, trying to find his mum a man. The New Zealand comedian wants a father figure in his life, but what exactly is his mother Janet looking for in a prospective partner? “Dark hair, nice eyes… a neck,” Janet tells a sketch artist, who sets to work bringing her romantic vision to life. Moments later, the artist reveals a stunning interpretation of Janet’s dream bloke. One picture can paint a thousand words, and in this uplifting moment of hope and possibility, the tone for the entire series of James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man is set.
Forget Art and Matilda, nobody mention Scotty and Shanti, because James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man is a romantic journey the likes we’ve never seen on local television before. This hilarious new comedy series follows Mustapic as he embarks on a quest to find his mother her ideal man. Like any good dating show, Must-a-pic delves into Janet’s wants and needs, her romantic history and the challenges of dating in the modern world, and then sets her up on a series of bizarre dates.
But does Janet even want a man? “That’s not important,” Mustapic tells us.
The result is a show with a little bit of everything: a well-meaning protagonist, a reluctant heroine and a curious Art Green bathtub scene. Written by Mustapic and directed by Johnny Barker (who in a lovely full circle moment, played Shortland Street’s Ferndale Strangler and who Mustapic once made an entire video about), Must-a-pic hums along at a cracking pace, packing plenty of laughs into each 22 minute episode.
The writing is sharp and wonderfully snarky (the Alec Baldwin line in episode one made me gasp), and the comedy is awkward without feeling too uncomfortable. And for all the fake dates and wacky setups, there’s a surprising amount of heart to the show, particularly when Mustapic talks about his absent father. That emotion is quickly used for comic effect, like when Mustapic asks comedian Ray O’Leary to roleplay being his dad. “Of course I’m proud of you, Jason,” Dad O’Leary tells Mustapic.
Mustapic’s star has been on the rise for years, from his early beginnings with the brilliant Shorty Street Scandal to recent shows like Queer Academy, Abandonment Issues and The Spinoff’s Repressed Memories. The Celebrity Treasure Island winner and Billy T Nominee is in his element here, always making himself part of the joke, and there’s a warmth in the first two episodes that stops it feeling like Janet’s being made fun of. Janet gives as good as she gets, and the affection between mother and son continually shines through.
Plus, Must-a-pic gives us a brand new local star: Janet. James’ mum has featured in his videos before, but here, she sparkles in her own right as someone genuinely unsure why she agreed to appear on a TV show that exposes her romantic life to the nation. Janet goes along for the ride purely out of love for her son – who is a lot more invested in this journey than she is – and her tolerance and general lack of enthusiasm for every one of James’ batshit ideas is the perfect foil to the show’s entirely bonkers premise.
“It’s clear Janet was a lonely old wench,” James tells us in episode one, so what else is a loving son to do than set his mother up with a man who performs headstands in a cafe? After watching the first two episodes, I’m fully invested in this unpredictable, hilarious, wild journey. James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man never forgets its own ridiculousness, but is bursting with heart, humour and a whole lot more bathtime Art Green than you might expect.
The full season of James Must-a-pic His Mum a Man drops on TVNZ+ on Thursday 7 March.
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Why you should watch: Shogun (Disney+)
If you’re a fan of television that transports you to another time and place, Shōgun should be your weekend watch. Based on the 1975 novel by James Clavell, it’s a sweeping historical epic set in Japan in 1600, when the country is on the precipice of war. After a Dutch ship is marooned, English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) collides with Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and mysterious female samurai Lady Marikoi (Anna Sawai) as a series of political and power struggles unfold. It’s stunning to watch and early reviews are impressive (at the time of writing it had a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), with critics calling it a “mesmerising epic”, “absolutely fabulous” and “high stakes event TV at its finest”.
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Laura Dern, Luke Wilson and Dianne Ladd star in Enlightened (Neon, two seasons), an American drama about a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening after a very public breakdown at work. Though made in 2011, one critic recently called it smart and ahead of its time (handy, considering you’re reading this 13 years later) and Dern’s “best ever role”.
Why you should watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix)
Fantasy fans should dive straight into Avatar: The Last Airbender, Netflix’s reboot of the original animated series from the 2000s. Written by Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow) and co-directed by New Zealander Roseanne Liang, the series is set in a world where four elemental nations are at war with each other and only the Avatar can restore peace.
After discovering that the last live action Avatar reboot left a lot to be desired, The Spinoff’s Avatar expert Tommy de Silva wondered if the Netflix remake would be any better. Thankfully, the answer was yes. “Despite the occasional cheesiness, this latest Avatar reboot is a good watch,” he writes. “It’s a faithful adaptation of Nickelodeon’s classic cartoon that tells the same epic story and excellent character arcs – while standing on its own two feet by adding new story elements and character details. The emotional undercurrents of the cartoon can be hit or miss in live-action, but several moments here brought a tear to my eye.”
Spinoff pop culture links of the week
With this week’s shocking announcement that Newshub will close on June 30, Alex Casey took a look back at three decades of news on Three.
New to streaming this week includes the serious historical epic Shōgun and the not-so-serious historical epic The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.
Find out why cricket commentator Mark Richardson compares himself to the polar bear at Auckland Zoo in this week’s My Life in TV.
Puzzled by the incredible universal appeal of Taylor Swift? Duncan Greive explains it.
I loved Tommy de Silva’s interview with Stan Walker that covers everything from Tāme Iti to his new tunes.
In more news: Alice Snedden’s Bad News is back for a two part special and this time, she’s tackling climate change.
Why you should watch: Married at First Sight Australia (Three, ThreeNow)
We're a few weeks in now and I genuinely believe this might be the best batch of contestants in Married at First Sight history. They have broadly cast the net a little wider than the usual Instagram fare and roped in a few over-45s, who aren't afraid to call BS on all the mid-20s’ garbage and gaslighting. We've got the likes of soul sister Lucinda Light, who was at first edited to seem like a Tom Sainsbury character but has since become the most level-headed person in the experiment. We've got charlatans such as Ben, transparently on the show to promote his podcast which has about 100 subscribers. And Collins!!! Maybe the first alien contestant ever to be cast on a reality romance competition? It's not too late to let down your walls and say "I do" to this sometimes appalling, frequently fascinating and entirely unmissable social experiment. / Alex Casey
Before we pop off…
If you’ve watched every season of Alone and fancy your survival skills (and have a spare $7000 lying around), then sign up for this ultimate desert island holiday.
Bridget Jones is back, baby: the fourth film about the fabulously flawed 2000s heroine is set to begin production in May.
Calling all Block Australia fans: Leah and Ash finally sold their home.
And finally, the man who owns the 700-year-old stately home from Saltburn is pissed off that everyone wants to visit. He should just be glad they don’t all want to take a bath.
That’s it for Rec Room for this week. If you liked what you read, why not share Rec Room with your friends and whānau.